4G LTE Security Cameras: Data Plan Costs by Brand
As of October 2026, a 4G camera's data costs $5.99 to $41.99 a month on Reolink's own SIM plans (1GB to 10GB, regular prices), or $20 a month on Verizon's security camera plan. Most single cameras need 1GB to 2GB: eufy estimates about 700MB for its S330, Arlo 700MB to 2GB for the Go 2. Over three years, data usually costs more than the camera.
Figures researched 2026-10-01; each source below carries its access date. Prices change; treat any price here as "as of" its date.
What does a cellular camera data plan cost?
A 4G LTE camera is a battery or solar camera with a SIM card in place of Wi-Fi. The camera price is a one-time cost; the data plan is the running cost, and it is the number most product pages leave out. These are the published prices we could confirm on first-party pages as of October 2026.
| Plan | Data per month | Price per month | Who sells it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reolink 1GB SIM plan | 1GB | $5.99 regular ($5.39 promo shown) | Reolink, for its 4G cameras |
| Reolink 2GB SIM plan | 2GB | $9.99 regular ($8.49 promo shown) | Reolink |
| Reolink 5GB SIM plan | 5GB | $21.99 regular ($17.59 promo shown) | Reolink |
| Reolink 10GB SIM plan | 10GB | $41.99 regular ($33.59 promo shown) | Reolink |
| Verizon security camera plan | Unlimited, 15GB premium data | $20 per line | Verizon |
Reolink also lists a free 100MB trial plan, once per device. Verizon's page says that after 15GB a month of 5G/4G LTE data, speeds drop to up to 600 Kbps.
eufy and Arlo do not sell their own data plans on the pages we read. eufy's 4G LTE Cam S330 ships with a SIM card that works on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, with 100MB of free data during the first 7 days and no contract or activation fees, per eufy's cellular camera page; after that you buy a plan for that SIM. Arlo's Go 2 needs "an activated SIM card with a mobile data plan" from a compatible US carrier (AT&T, Cellcom, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular or Verizon), sold separately. We could not find a published eufy or Arlo data plan price, so check the carrier's current plan for that device before buying.
How much data does a 4G security camera use?
The makers publish estimates, and they agree on the shape: a quiet camera fits in 1GB, a busy one does not.
- eufy 4G LTE Cam S330: about 700MB a month, assuming around 10 short live views and 25 brief motion clips a day, per eufy.
- Arlo Go 2: 700MB to 2GB a month, per Arlo's product page.
- Reolink 4G cameras in general: Reolink's buying guide puts a low-traffic camera (about 5 motion alerts a day, no live viewing) at 500MB to 1GB, standard monitoring (15 to 20 alerts and about 2 minutes of live view a day) at 2GB to 4GB, and a high-traffic camera with frequent streaming at 10GB to 20GB or more.
Three things push usage up: live viewing (the biggest single driver, because it streams continuously), motion zones that catch a road or trees, and higher resolution. Cameras that record to a microSD card on the device and only upload alerts and short clips use far less than cameras that upload everything. The S330 comes with a 32GB microSD card, and the Arlo Go 2 has a microSD slot (card sold separately), so both keep a local copy even when the signal is weak.
Cellular coverage is the precondition for all of this. If the site has weak or no signal, a 4G camera is the wrong tool; the alternatives are covered in rural home security with no cell service.
Three-year cost: camera plus data
Our arithmetic, using regular (non-promo) data plan prices and the camera prices on each maker's own store as of October 2026. Arlo's $159.99 is a sale price; its listed original price is $199.99, which would add $40 to that row.
| Setup | Camera | Data over 36 months | Three-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reolink Go Ultra on Reolink 1GB plan | $199.99 | $215.64 | $415.63 |
| Reolink Go Ultra on Reolink 2GB plan | $199.99 | $359.64 | $559.63 |
| Arlo Go 2 on Verizon $20 camera plan | $159.99 (sale) | $720.00 | $879.99 |
The pattern holds for any brand: at $10 to $20 a month, three years of data costs more than the camera. Two ways to bring it down:
- Size the plan to the camera's real usage. Start on the smallest plan, watch the usage meter in the app for a month, and move up only if you hit the cap. Cutting live viewing does more than any other setting.
- Use Wi-Fi where it exists. Both the eufy S330 and the Arlo Go 2 also support Wi-Fi, and eufy says the S330 switches to mobile data if Wi-Fi drops. At a vacation home with internet, the SIM becomes a backup rather than the main link.
Power is the other running question, since most 4G cameras are battery units and cellular radios drain batteries faster than Wi-Fi. Arlo, for example, notes that Go 2 battery life varies with mobile signal strength. Published battery ratings by brand are in battery security camera battery life, and solar options that remove the recharge trip are in solar-powered security cameras. For off-grid sites that do have some connection, the full comparison of non-Wi-Fi options is in security cameras without WiFi, and for cameras that avoid cloud fees entirely see no-subscription security cameras.
A 4G camera records and alerts; it does not dispatch anyone. For a remote property where response matters, a monitored system with cellular communication is a different product with a different cost.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a data plan for a 4G security camera cost?
- As of October 2026, Reolink's own SIM plans run $5.99 a month for 1GB up to $41.99 for 10GB at regular prices, and Verizon's security camera plan is $20 a month per line with 15GB of premium data. eufy and Arlo cameras use a carrier plan you buy separately.
- Is 1GB a month enough for a cellular security camera?
- For a quiet location, often yes. eufy estimates its S330 uses about 700MB a month at 10 live views and 25 clips a day, and Reolink puts a low-traffic camera at 500MB to 1GB. Frequent live viewing or a busy motion zone can push usage to several gigabytes.
- Do LTE cameras also need a cloud subscription?
- Not necessarily. The data plan connects the camera; cloud storage is a separate optional plan. The eufy S330 includes a 32GB microSD card and the Arlo Go 2 has a microSD slot, so recordings can stay on the device.
- Can I use any SIM card in a 4G camera?
- Only one the camera supports. eufy lists AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon for the S330, and Arlo lists AT&T, Cellcom, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon for the Go 2. Check the carrier's coverage at the exact mounting spot before buying.
Sources
- Reolink US SIM data plans: 100MB trial free once per device; 1GB $5.99 regular ($5.39 shown); 2GB $9.99 ($8.49); 5GB $21.99 ($17.59); 10GB $41.99 ($33.59): https://reolink.com/blog/reolink-subscription-cost/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Reolink usage profiles: low-traffic 500MB to 1GB, standard 2GB to 4GB, high-traffic 10GB to 20GB+ per month; dedicated data plan required: https://reolink.com/blog/cellular-security-cameras-buying-guide/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Reolink Go Ultra $199.99 on Reolink's US store cellular camera page: https://store.reolink.com/cellular-security-camera/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Verizon security camera Unlimited plan $20 per line per month; 15GB premium data, then up to 600 Kbps: https://www.verizon.com/plans/devices/security-cameras/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
- eufy 4G LTE Cam S330: included SIM works with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon; 100MB free data first 7 days, no contract or activation fees; about 700MB per month at ~10 live views and 25 clips per day; 4G and Wi-Fi with automatic switch; $199.99 sale price on collection page: https://www.eufy.com/collections/cellular-security-camera (accessed 2026-10-01)
- eufy S330 product page: $249.99, includes 32GB microSD, 9,400mAh battery, ~700MB/month estimate: https://www.eufy.com/products/t86p2121 (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Arlo Go 2: $159.99 sale price (original price $199.99); requires activated SIM with data plan from AT&T, Cellcom, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular or Verizon (sold separately); Wi-Fi supported; microSD slot; estimated 700MB to 2GB per month: https://us.arlo.com/products/arlo-go-2-cameras (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Arlo: Go 2 battery life varies depending on mobile signal strength: https://kb.arlo.com/1202753 (accessed 2026-10-01)
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